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THE PURITANS at HOME Richard Baxter John Winthrop Volume 45/3 April 2018 THE PURITANS AT HOME Richard Baxter John Winthrop Anne Bradstreet Matthew Henry The Rev. Thomas Shepard Snr. The Rev. Contents Last time we ran articles on the Puritans, we were asking who they were, where they came from and what their legacy was. In this issue, we look at the The Puritans at home 1 Puritans at home – at the humanity of a group of people who were not only missunderstood, but also vilified in their time, and continue to be derided even The Puritans at home in our day. The Puritans in their own words 7 “Puritanical” is an adjective describing the strict practice of religion and/or morals. Yet a good look at the Puritans and how they lived will certainly show Easter meditation that they were not a dour, joyless, loveless and legalistic bunch of people: they “For us and for our salvation” 11 did not deserve such hostility. However, the times in which they lived were times of reformation and Letters from New Zealand 15 danger, in England and Scotland. Many left for the new world in North America, where they were free from persecution by the established church. Open letter to the RCNZ 16 Their love for the LORD and His word was fervent, they were positive in their view of service to GOD and mankind, and they promoted strong marriages and families. They were industrious, patriotic, well educated, cultured and Focus on home contributed much to the faith once delivered to the saints. They have left a Gleanings 17 legacy in their writings which has been a tremendous blessing to many of the LORD’s people ever since. Outreach/evangelism in focus Possibly their most significant contribution was made in the formulation of Peace: a life journey 17 the Westminster Standards during the Westminster Assembly (1643-49). The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents which include Books in focus 20 the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form Eulogies 23 of Church Government; and represent the doctrine and church polity of 17th- century English and Scottish Presbyterianism. The Confession and catechisms have been adopted as doctrinal standards by a number of Reformed and Presbyterian Christian denominations throughout the world. In the RCNZ we All correspondence regarding editorial content and also have adopted the Confession together with the Three Forms of Unity. advertising should be sent to: Our contributors look at the heart of the Puritans to give further insight into The Editor: an often-misunderstood people of lively faith. Walter Walraven Email: [email protected] Mr John Haverland looks at a people guided by the word of GOD. Reformed Churches Home Page Mrs Sally Davey has collected some extracts of the Puritans’ writings on http://www.rcnz.org.nz marriage and family life. Editorial Assistant: Mr Richard B. Gaffin, Jr considers the resurrection essential to our salvation. Mrs Sally Davey In Letters from New Zealand Mr D. G. Vanderpyl starts off with Malaysia and Production Staff: Islam. Distribution: M. & D. van der Zwaag There is an open letter to the RCNZ. Design & Layout: Matrix Typography Book reviews are: John Bunyan and the Grace of Fearing God, by Joel R. Printed by: Flying Colours Beeke and Paul M. Smalley, reviewed by OP minister Robert J. McKelvey; Honoring the Elderly: A Christian’s Duty to Aging Parent, by Brian L. De Jong, Copy Deadline: Six weeks preceding the month of publication. reviewed by Pastor Paul Mourreale; Death in Adam, Life in Christ: The Doctrine Church and family notices are free, subject to of Imputation, by J. V. Fesko, reviewed by OP elder Joseph W. Smith III; The sufficient space and editorial acceptance. Drama of Preaching: Participating with God in the History of Redemption, by Eric Brian Watkins, reviewed by OP pastor Mark Winder. All correspondence regarding distribution and Mr Madan Rai, a member of the Reformed Church of Palmerston North, payment of subscriptions to: reflects on a life’s journey for peace. The Secretary: Mrs Nicola Wharekawa 79 McLeod Street The opinions expressed in this magazine are not to be considered the official position of the Upper Hutt Reformed Churches of New Zealand unless they expound the Biblical system of doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dordt, or the Westminster Email: [email protected] Confession of Faith, or reflect the successive Acts of Synod of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand. On the other hand, care is taken to ensure that articles and opinions do not directly Subscription per volume: contradict the official position of the Reformed Churches as contained in the above sources $40.00 (eleven issues) without attention being called to that fact. Bulk Rate: $40.00 NB: In line with common publishing practice Faith in Focus reserves the right to publish the Overseas: $60.00 names of all contributors with their articles, unless compelling reasons are given to the editor Electronically Mailed (overseas only): $40 for not doing so. This applies to both print and online versions. 2 Faith in Focus Volume 45/3 April 2018 The Puritans at home John A Haverland of God and the guidance of the Word. Each day began and ended with search- Most of us are well aware that home and ing, unhurried and devout personal and family life in our society is at a low ebb. family prayer. Each task, whether pro- Most couples live together before mar- fessional or manual, was done to the riage and many never marry. Casual sex glory of God and with a scrupulous eye is commonplace as are short-term sexual to his perfect will.”4 relationships. Separation and divorce are The Puritans have a reputation for frequent and soon after such breakdowns being joyless, gloomy and depressing, “The great Puritans, both or either party has moved in with but this is completely undeserved. They someone else. Homosexual and lesbian took delight in God’s creation, in their though dead, still speak relationships are widely accepted and relationship in marriage as husband and have been made legal in New Zealand, wife, in their children and grandchildren, to us through their and in many other Western countries. in their fellowship with each other as The incidence of child abuse, and even Christians, and in the worship of God. writings and say things children murdered in their homes, is They sought to obey God in everything horrendous. There is growing confusion and they took his Word seriously. Puritan to us that we badly need about gender and a reluctance to make ministers taught their members thor- hard and fast distinctions between male oughly and faithfully in all these areas. to hear at this present and female. New Zealand society is far away from the biblical pattern of mar- Marriage time.” riage and family life. The Puritans had a very positive view of We could respond to this by going marriage and of the joy and compan- through passages in the Bible about mar- ionship a husband and wife could ex- riage and the family, which we do in perience within this closest of all human sermons and Bible studies. In this article, relationships. Thomas Gataker wrote, however, I am writing about the Puritan “There is no society more near, more view on these matters, so this is more of an historical study. J I Packer introduced his book on the Puritans with this state- ment; “The great Puritans, though dead, still speak to us through their writings and say things to us that we badly need to hear at this present time.”1 It is his view that their teaching and enforcing of their ideal for marriage and family “gave it such strength, substance, and solidity as to warrant the verdict that … they were creators of the English Christian marriage, the English Christian family, and the English Christian home.”2 The Puritans were Reformed and Presbyterian Christians who lived in England and Scotland from 1550 to 1700.3 Between 1630 and 1640 there was a Puritan migration to North America. They were devoted to the Bible and were rigorous in their appli- cation of its teaching to marriage and family life. Peter Lewis wrote, “Every area of life came under the influence Faith in Focus Volume 45/3 April 2018 3 entire, more needful, more kindly, more which listed the procreation of chil- delightful, more comfortable, more con- dren as the first purpose of marriage. stant, more continual, than the society The Puritans recognised, rightly, that of man and wife, the main root, source, God had ordained marriage first of all and original of all other societies.”5 for companionship, when he said, “It Richard Baxter, in his Christian Direc- is not good for the man to be alone. tory expressed a similar sentiment; “It I will make a helper suitable for him” is a mercy to have a faithful friend that (Gen 2:18). They affirmed sex in mar- loveth you entirely … to whom you may riage as a blessing from God and not open your mind and communicate your only for the purpose of procreation. affairs … And it is a mercy to have so Love in marriage was to be enjoyed near a friend to be a helper to your and celebrated. soul and … to stir up in you the grace They recognised that men and women of God.” Thomas Hooker described the were equal before God but that he had Christian husband with these words; appointed the husband to be the head “The man whose heart is endeared to of his wife.
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